SENATE BILL 215Expand duties and rename state government Commission on Spanish-Speaking AffairsIntroduced by state Sen. Valde Garcia, R-Howell

The bill proposes to change the name of the state government Commission on Spanish-Speaking Affairs to the "Hispanic/Latino Commission," and require this commission to "coordinate a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration," a Cinco de Mayo celebration, and a Cesar Chavez day celebration in addition to its current duties. These include securing "appropriate recognition of Spanish-speaking accomplishments," advising the governor and legislature on the "coordination of state programs serving Spanish-speaking people" and on "the nature, magnitude, and priorities of the problems of Spanish-speaking people," etc.

The bill proposes to extend state regulations on public playground equipment to include flagpoles, and require public flagpoles to be made of aluminum or a material that is considered by the industry to be high strength and lightweight material. The bill is introduced following the recent death of a child when a flag pole fell on her in a wind storm.

HOUSE BILL 4260Spend $300,000 to open government "trade office" in ArabiaIntroduced by state Rep. George Cushingberry, D-Detroit

The bill proposes to authorize spending $300,000 to open a Michigan "African and Mideast Trade Office" in Qatar or the United Arab Emirates.

The bill proposes to increase the penalties for the state "dog law" that mandates licensing for dogs and imposes other dog regulations. Under the bill violations would be a misdemeanor subject to up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. The bill would also increase the penalty for false claims under the law that authorizes reimbursement for livestock killed by a dog.

The bill proposes to give the state fire marshal the authority and discretion to ban particular "novelty lighters," that have "the appearance of a toy, collectible, or other object not generally used as an ignition device."

The bill proposes to require retailers to attach an identification tag signed by the buyer to kegs of beer when they are sold, and not return the keg deposit unless the tag is still on the keg, subject to a $250 fine for failing to do either. A non-retailer possessing a keg without the tag would be subject to a $500 fine and 93 days in jail.

The bill proposes to encourage public middle and high schools to focus the content of any instruction about U.S. labor history on the establishment of the AFL, CIO, UAW and others; the 1936 "Flint Sitdown Strike"; Walter Reuther; the (presumably negative) effects of NAFTA; and more.